Makitjm hope



Hf. AND W. T. SOUUS. sHocK Asosams APPARATUS.

APPUCATOON fLD MQR. I. |955. 1,331,537.

2 SHEES-SHEEI l.

Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

H. A. AND w. T. souus. SHOCK ABSORBING APHRMUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. i, i935.

Pamesa-11mm, 1520.

2 SHEE'IMSNMI 2 y kywm@ to distinguish springs/to withstand severe jolts.

,cient inv one UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD A. SiOULIS AND WILBUR T. SOULIS. 0F NEW YORK. N. Y.

SHOCK-ABSORBING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HAROLD A. Sowas and "imra T. Sowas, citizens of the United States. and residents of New York. county of New York. and State of New York, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in Shock-Absorbing A\pparatus. of which the following is a specification. the

lprinciple of the inventionbeing herein explained and the best mode in which we have contemplated applying that principle so as it from other inventions.

The present improvements relate in gener'al to mechanism for receiving severe. shocks and recoils and more particularly to a device of the type popularly known as shockabsorbers for use between the axles and frame of vehicles for assis-tinol the Tlie aeused for that lil-pose are defiparticular which is that the reoti'eris proportional to, and in fact is controlled by the relative movement tween axle and frame. They contin lly dampen the spring action therefore and revent the springs from absorbing the gentler jars in the proper manner Asince they stitien the springs a't all times. This action is lnot the best and our present device has been designed to proportion the resistance otieredo the intensity of the shock and not to the distance through which the axle has moved toward or away from the frame. In this way the s rings are given added resistance only w en it is required and this increased resistance is proportioned to suit each individual shock, which obviously is the proper action for such a device. To\the accomp ishment of ther foregoing and related ends, said invention. then. consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention. such disclosed means constituting. however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principlerof the. invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the prefel-red form of our device. the-view being also partially sectioned. the plane of the sc ction being indicated by the line 1-1in Fig. 3; Fig. 2 1s a side elevation illustrating the device as applied to one type of spring vices no'w sistance they Specicatfon o! Letters Patent.

. Patented Feb. 24. |920. 191s. semina. 18.506.

on a vehicle: Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig. t is a section of a modified forni of the other sectional view illustrating a stili dit'- ferent form ofthe invention.

Referring to the device illustrated in Figs. 1 2 and 3. it will be seen that the device. comprises two arms l and 2. which will be attached to the frame 3 and axle -lof the ve` hicle res )ectively.' as is -usual with such dcvic'es. Tlhe precise attachments between the shock absorber and the axle and frame are immaterial so long as they have suitable connections therewith. -These movable elements 1 and :2 are connected together by means of the pivoted block or pin .7, and thus have relative movement toward and away from each other when a shock is received in the axle 4 of the vehicle. tending to move the latter toward the frame 3.

The upper of the two arms 1. consists of two parts, the outer of which is the arm proper which is ivotally attached to a plate 6. and it is to tliis plate that the arm 2 is cOnnectcd. -It is immaterial whether the arm 1, consists of one or more members attached together, but as illustrated in Fig. 3,

there are preferably duplicate arms 1. rovided at their inner ends with cams 7 w ich are in contact with a rebent spring 8 pressing against an arcuate plate or shoe 9. which is carried by 'the plate (i and bears against a correspondingly formed shoe 10 attached to the lower arm 2.- The two arms are spaced apart by a l ishing 37 shaped like the cams and mouniied Von the pin 16 and held in place by a small pin 38.

The arms 1 are maintained at a given distance from the in 5 by means of external rods 12 adjustab y engaging the same. while the spring 8 Ais maintained in position by having its ends passed through apertures 18 formed in the side members 1f: which constitute the plate or member (i. The position of the cams 7 with respect to the plate 9 determines the pressure with which the spring 8 presses against the latter. and this may be initially adjusted by tightening or loosening the nuts 20 on the rods 12. lf preferred, the tuio shoes 9 and 10 which operste as frictional members. may be formed of a suitable friction material in order to increase the resistance to relative movement between the same.

lnitially..the resistance. oli'ered by th'e pressure between shoes 9 and 1() is greater than the resistance offered by the spring to oscillation of the cams 7. lVhen a. shock is first received, the arms 1 and 2 are moved toward ewch other, and this pressure which we will assume is transmitted first to thcarm 1, causes the latter to initially rotate about its axis, which is the pin 16.- Accordingly the initial movement of the arm l produces a camming action against the rebent springr 8, thus increasing` the pressure of this spring against the plate 9, and in turn increasing the resistance offered b 'the friction bctween the plates E) and 10 to t movement ot' the plate (5 with respect to the arm 2. The cams 'i' are so formed that the resistance offered to pivotal movement of the arm 1 by the spring 8, increases faster and moro quickly than the increase in the resistance offered by the plates 9 and 10 to the movelnent of the plate 6 about the pin 5, and

accordingly after a certain movement by the arm 1, the arms 1 and (i will turn as a unit about the pin 5. In order to turn these rwo arms as a unit about the iin 5, a. much greater pressure is required t ian to initially turn the arm 1 about the pivot 16, and in this way a graduated pressure is )rovided which will slowly and increasinglY resist movement between the frame and t 1e axle. It will be obvious that any desired latitude of initial movement hy the arm 1 can 'be secured b v varying the form oi the cams 7, and in this way changingr the point in the angular movement of the arm l at which the cam increases the piessure lbetween the plates 9 and 10 to a point where the arms l and l will operate as a unit.

By the foregoing construction we secure a shwk-absorbineV action which very closely approximates the theoreticailly perfect action for such a device. This is obtained not so much because of the increased resistance as by the way in which this increased resistance acts and the conditions under which it becomes available. It will be apparent that the intensitvot thejolt determinesthe initial speed of movement of the arm 1. The speed of movement of thel arm determines the. :ln--

Ile through which it will swingbefore being forced to swing;r as a unit with the plate (i. Thus a very heavy jolt will swing the arm l through a greater angle than a light jar. This results in varying the final resistance oft'ered to swinging of ar1ns`1 and 6 together, since the pressure between the shoes 9 and 10 is determined by the amount of angular movement of the cams 7 on arm 1. The final resistance is a constant one, varying: in direct proportion to the intensity of the jolt so that a light jolt produces very little resistance in the shock absorber and permits the springs to practically alone absorb the jars. In other words. the present device presents no fixed resistance to movement but a varying iesistance varyin with, and controlled by, the intensity o the shock. In this way the device is a, proper auxiliary to a spring and not a damper on the same, and permits springs to be desi ed to accoinmodate the weaker shocks without bein b'uilt np and stiii'ened to also meet the heaviest jolts.

In Fig. 4, we have shown a modification of the invention. in which there are also two relatively movably connected arms 21 and :22. The arm 22 `is formed at the connected, end with a cylinder or circular plate 23 within which there are two spaced and dia.- metrically opposed shoes or friction members 24. These friction members 24 are provided with transverse resilient plates 25 between which there is mounted a. square cam 26 attached to the. arm 21. Spacers 27 maintain the springs in the positions shown, these spacers being nnattached and floating within the drum 23. Initial movement of the arm 21 causes a cumming action by the square cani 26 against the springs 25, thus incleasin the pressure of the shoes 24 against t 1e cylinder 23. After the arm 21 has moved through a predetermined arc, the resistance offered to further rotation of the cam 26 by the springs 25 is so that the shoes 24 will turn as a unit wit 1 the arm 21, and, of course, as the result of the camming action against the springs 25, the plessure, between the 'shoes 24 and the cylinder 23 will then very greatly increase, and therefore the resistance to relative movement between the two arms will be correspondingly increased.

In Fi 5 we show a vertical construction comprismg arms 30 attached to the frame and connected to cam 31 which arepvoted on a. plate 32 and operate against resilient members 33 pressing a ainst the outer of three spaced shoes 34. tween these shoes are other shoes 35 attached to the vehicle axle. The shoes 34 and 35 correspond in function to the brake shoes in the preceding types. Upon initial movement the cams 31 press the members 33 against the friction shoes 3i and 35 thus increasingr this pressure. Thus when the shoes iinally move with respect to each other the pressure between them has been much increased. The action is thus similar to that of the other ty )es shown in the other figures.

he advantae of proportioning the resistance of the shock absorber to the intelisity of the jlt Awill be apparent to all those skilled in the .art. The springs are permitted to retain their full control over all smaller jars which is to be desired. Vas a shock absorber merely resists, while a spring gives and returns. thus absorbin the energy in easy motion instead of mere y stopping the motion as does the usual shock-absorber. 0n the other hand our device does act when .tial rela necessary to take up a heav)V shock and acts with a force` dependent on thc intensity of thc shock. so that the springs are' supplemented in a \va v which will permit of their being designed to give the maximum ease of riding, which can onli' be done when the ne.\ces.-;it)- for withstanding the heaviest jolis is eliminated.

It will be readily seen that the operation of the device will be similar whether thu movement is up or down. In either case the elements will cooperate to proportion the resistance to intensity of the shoek, which is what is desired in such a device to enable it t0 assist, and not hamper. the springs.

Other modes of a )plying thc principle of our invention may e employed instead ofY the one explained, change being irpadfh's r e gal-ds the` mechanism herein'di'sclosedl. provided the means stated by' an of the followin claims or the equivalent of such statedg means be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctlyclaim as our invention c 1. In shckabsorbing a paratus the-combination of tivo relative y movable.'--.eon nect` elements; :fr iclfion means carried by said e einetits and tending to resist relative movements-pf the same resiljentf; means initial pressure in said friction means; and other meansoperable-.by .nitialn relative movement and adapted to operate '.sid resilient'means to' increase the of said friction means-fin `direct proportion' lto the velocity of such iniiv'niovement of said elements. 2. In shock absorbing a patatas the combination of two relative e' movable. connected elements. friction members mounted on said elements and adapted to contact thereby tending to resist relative movement, adjustable resilient means adapted to place said friction members under pressure to vary their resistance to` movement, and meansoperable by initial movement of said members and vadapted to operate said resilient. means to automatically increase the pres sure thereof, the increase beingdirectly proportional to the velocity of the initial relative movement of said elements.

3. In shock absorbin apparatus, the combination of two relativy movable connected elements, fric-tion means carried b v said elements and tending to resist relative-'movement of the same., resilient. means adapted to cause initial pressure in said friction means. and cam means mounted on one elenient and operable upon initial relative' movement to engage with said resilient, means to increase the pressure in said friction means in direct proportion to the. ve' locity of such initial relative movement of said elements.

4. in shock absorbing apparatus. tht` combination of two rclativclv movable connected iv'lemcnts. friction means carried b v .said elcments and tcndin; r to resist relative mo'vc ment of the same. adjustable resilient means adapted to cause initial pressure in said friction means. means for var vingz thc initial pressure of said resilient means. uml a cam block mounted in one ofA said elcmcntsin engagement with said resilient means. said cam being: operable upon initial relative movement of said elements to increase the. pressure exerted b v. said resilient means iu direct proportion to the velocit) of such initial relative morclncnt of said elements.

In a slome-absorbing: apparatus the combination of an arm provided with a fric-- tion member; a second arm pivotally connei-ted to lsaid first arm and having a complcmcutary friction member adapted to contact with said first friction member: a s )ring mounted on said second arm and icing: adapted to exert pressure upon said friction members; and a third arm pirotnlly connected to said second arm and adapted to contact with said spring upon movementof said third arm and thereby increase the pressure of said .spring upon 'said friction members. .A

(Lln a shock-absorbingapparatus the combination of an arlii'fprovided with a fric; tion mcinber: a second arm pivot-ally coniis nectd tfsaid first arm 'and havinga complementary l friction member adapted 'to con- 'tacttvith;t said first friction member: a

springiihoiintcd-on said secon arm and being adapted to exert pressure' upon said friction members; a third arm pivotally mount- 1 cdinsaidsemnd armi-a cam head mounted on said third arm 'and adapted to contact said spring: upon movement of said third arm. th'cxcbv increasing thev pressurc'- cxcrted b v said spring;r upon said friction members. 4 p

7. In a shock-absorbing apparatus the combination of an arm provided with a friction member: two side plates pivotally connected to said arm and having a complementary friction member adapted to contact with said first friction member; a spring nu'umtcd on said plates and adapted to place 115 I said friction members under piessurcpneans for var vmgir such spi-lng pressure: a second al'm pivotally mounted`in said side plates and adapted upon movement about its axis to contact said spring. ,thereby increasing the pressure exerted' b v the same on said friction members.

R. lu a shock-absbrbing apparatus the, combination of an arm provided with a friction member; two side plates pivotallv con 125 nected to said arm and havingl a complementarv friction member adapted to contact with said first friction member: a spring: mounted on said plates and adapted to place said friction members under pressure; means for varying such spring pressure; a second Signed'by us thiS 26th day ofv March, 1915.

arm pivotally mounted in said side plates; l

and a cum head attached to said arm and l nda )ted to Contact said spring, movement of A 5 VsaidI arm about its axis being adapted to in- Attested bycrea'se the fessure on said spring and there-V THOS. B. WILGUB, by on sai fritionmembers.v Mmmm HOPE. 

